Tomorrow the alarm will be set for 5 AM so I can see Andy Roddick (I hope) top Roger Federer. He's 2-15 career but beat an aging Federer a few months ago, I think.
The match starts at 3:30, but I'm expecting 5 sets that should end around 6:30. From there I got ad notes to do, plus reading, lots of fun.
Then lacrosse tomorrow afternoon, cool. Good Day.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Reflections of this season
People,
I can't blame one thing for the loss to the Eagles Sunday. I really can't. Are you going to blame the wind for Eli's loft in the first half that ultimately resulted in an Eagles touchdown? How about the defense's third down ineptitude? And you definitely cannot blame the coaching. I have ultimate respect for Tom Coughlin. The only thing Coughlin could not address in practice was containing Donovan McNabb. It was as if the defense would shut the Eagles down (Westbrook was a non-factor) only to McNabb drop back and scramble. He would then proceed to find his open reciever. I'm not sure I can blame the defensive line even for that. It was a loss I had trouble accepting.
But you know what? I wore my Giants hat the next day, because I represent my team. I'm the biggest Giants fan you know and I am proud of my team no matter what. Good sports fan go into each year believing their team is the best and they will win it all. Great sports fans recognize when a team comes in and beats theirs. Great teams will be able to avenge those losses. The big drift - these losses aren't going to come in the playoffs. See the Giants of 2007, SBXLII champs. The Giants were 10-6 during the regular season but avenged four of those losses in the playoffs by beating the Cowboys (who they had lost twice to), the Packers, and Patriots, all teams that had beaten them in the regular season.
Yeah, the Giants won in Philadelphia but that was so long ago. Witnessing the team lead a wild second half comeback for an eventual overtime win December 21st was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I'm truly thankful for that opportunity to go. But the thing remains that the team looked nothing like they did against Carolina either time against Philadelphia. Philadelphia came in and embarassed the Giants not once but twice in the Meadowlands. I don't get it and I'll never understand it. The Giants were 7-2 at home in 2008 and rolled over anybody who could put on shoulder pads except the Eagles.
The worst part is I felt like we were the better team in all three matchups. I never felt like we could lose the first game in Philadelphia that we won, and even the regular season loss I felt like we were the better team and still didn't come out with the W. But in the playoff game, those thoughts just flew apart. The Eagles were controlling us and I only admitted they had momentum later on in the game, only in the fourth quarter once Giants fans were making their way to the exits. I watched it all. I screamed, I punched walls, but I kept the game on. I was mad that I had finally snapped - I had admitted the Eagles were the better team on January 11th, 2009. Every other day during the season I had felt like it was us. I do believe the Giants were the better team every day except that one.
There's no blame to pass at this point.
But now here's the offseason and I want the Giants to start thinking about drafting someone who can step in and play. What I mean is not drafting by need, but by the best player available. The Giants are going to have some cap free up that may get lost what with re-signing Ward and Jacobs, but drafting a LB maybe James Laurinatis or trading up for Rey Mauluga (probably spelled it wrong) probably would be good for the team. We can finally get rid of Antonio Pierce. Oh boy have I just been exceptionally unhappy with his play this season. He is a great defensive captain but he can't hold up his end on the playing field. That play against the Eagles during the regular season where Westbrook got away and scored continues to play through my mind. Let's get rid of Pierce and make Mathias Kiawanuka defensive captain. Because then we could draft a young linebacker with a ton of potential like Rey Mauluga.
Another great pick would be a wide reciever as this year should have some sleepers. Kenny Britt out of Rutgers looked pretty good in his time as a Scarlet Knight, as did countless others. Knowshon Moreno may fall to the Giants and if Ward decides to take his game elsewhere that would be a solid pick to keep our running game strong.
I really hope Plaxico Burress comes back. I think what he did was irresponsible but I do believe he should be able to carry a gun. Let's knock it down to a misdemeanor and just let the man do his job. Nothing again Domenik Hixon but Plax is a lightning player of a kind you don't necessarily see in the league all the time. Plax has quickness no other player really has, and the fact that he is not seen as a premier wide reciever is probably because Manning doesn't throw to him enough.
But for all intensive purposes players have been saying they want him back and upper management has hinted at it so perhaps Burress will be back when he is inevitably not given jail time. Perhaps Roger Goodell will be okay with the whole situation as Burress couldn't play most of this year.
I'll still always remember him for that TD catch. I still want a Plaxico Burress jersey. I think he's a wonderful player. I recommend his book that came out recently, co-written with Jason Cole. It's in Plax's words. Really quite a non-fiction piece.
Picks:
Cardinals 34, Eagles 31 (Why not?)
Ravens 20, Steelers 17
- The Lakers can tell you how hard it is to do something three times in a row. The Ravens finally get to the Steelers.
Super Bowl:
Warner > Flacco
Cardinals 20, Ravens 16
You will eventually have a ring Mr. Flacco. But this is the year for Arizona. Because let's face it, I don't know how much longer Kurt Warner will hold on in this league. He's got a lot to play for. And the Ravens will probably be favored if this situation plays out.
But realistically - all I want is for the Eagles to lose. That's it.
Be Happy.
Eric
I can't blame one thing for the loss to the Eagles Sunday. I really can't. Are you going to blame the wind for Eli's loft in the first half that ultimately resulted in an Eagles touchdown? How about the defense's third down ineptitude? And you definitely cannot blame the coaching. I have ultimate respect for Tom Coughlin. The only thing Coughlin could not address in practice was containing Donovan McNabb. It was as if the defense would shut the Eagles down (Westbrook was a non-factor) only to McNabb drop back and scramble. He would then proceed to find his open reciever. I'm not sure I can blame the defensive line even for that. It was a loss I had trouble accepting.
But you know what? I wore my Giants hat the next day, because I represent my team. I'm the biggest Giants fan you know and I am proud of my team no matter what. Good sports fan go into each year believing their team is the best and they will win it all. Great sports fans recognize when a team comes in and beats theirs. Great teams will be able to avenge those losses. The big drift - these losses aren't going to come in the playoffs. See the Giants of 2007, SBXLII champs. The Giants were 10-6 during the regular season but avenged four of those losses in the playoffs by beating the Cowboys (who they had lost twice to), the Packers, and Patriots, all teams that had beaten them in the regular season.
Yeah, the Giants won in Philadelphia but that was so long ago. Witnessing the team lead a wild second half comeback for an eventual overtime win December 21st was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I'm truly thankful for that opportunity to go. But the thing remains that the team looked nothing like they did against Carolina either time against Philadelphia. Philadelphia came in and embarassed the Giants not once but twice in the Meadowlands. I don't get it and I'll never understand it. The Giants were 7-2 at home in 2008 and rolled over anybody who could put on shoulder pads except the Eagles.
The worst part is I felt like we were the better team in all three matchups. I never felt like we could lose the first game in Philadelphia that we won, and even the regular season loss I felt like we were the better team and still didn't come out with the W. But in the playoff game, those thoughts just flew apart. The Eagles were controlling us and I only admitted they had momentum later on in the game, only in the fourth quarter once Giants fans were making their way to the exits. I watched it all. I screamed, I punched walls, but I kept the game on. I was mad that I had finally snapped - I had admitted the Eagles were the better team on January 11th, 2009. Every other day during the season I had felt like it was us. I do believe the Giants were the better team every day except that one.
There's no blame to pass at this point.
But now here's the offseason and I want the Giants to start thinking about drafting someone who can step in and play. What I mean is not drafting by need, but by the best player available. The Giants are going to have some cap free up that may get lost what with re-signing Ward and Jacobs, but drafting a LB maybe James Laurinatis or trading up for Rey Mauluga (probably spelled it wrong) probably would be good for the team. We can finally get rid of Antonio Pierce. Oh boy have I just been exceptionally unhappy with his play this season. He is a great defensive captain but he can't hold up his end on the playing field. That play against the Eagles during the regular season where Westbrook got away and scored continues to play through my mind. Let's get rid of Pierce and make Mathias Kiawanuka defensive captain. Because then we could draft a young linebacker with a ton of potential like Rey Mauluga.
Another great pick would be a wide reciever as this year should have some sleepers. Kenny Britt out of Rutgers looked pretty good in his time as a Scarlet Knight, as did countless others. Knowshon Moreno may fall to the Giants and if Ward decides to take his game elsewhere that would be a solid pick to keep our running game strong.
I really hope Plaxico Burress comes back. I think what he did was irresponsible but I do believe he should be able to carry a gun. Let's knock it down to a misdemeanor and just let the man do his job. Nothing again Domenik Hixon but Plax is a lightning player of a kind you don't necessarily see in the league all the time. Plax has quickness no other player really has, and the fact that he is not seen as a premier wide reciever is probably because Manning doesn't throw to him enough.
But for all intensive purposes players have been saying they want him back and upper management has hinted at it so perhaps Burress will be back when he is inevitably not given jail time. Perhaps Roger Goodell will be okay with the whole situation as Burress couldn't play most of this year.
I'll still always remember him for that TD catch. I still want a Plaxico Burress jersey. I think he's a wonderful player. I recommend his book that came out recently, co-written with Jason Cole. It's in Plax's words. Really quite a non-fiction piece.
Picks:
Cardinals 34, Eagles 31 (Why not?)
Ravens 20, Steelers 17
- The Lakers can tell you how hard it is to do something three times in a row. The Ravens finally get to the Steelers.
Super Bowl:
Warner > Flacco
Cardinals 20, Ravens 16
You will eventually have a ring Mr. Flacco. But this is the year for Arizona. Because let's face it, I don't know how much longer Kurt Warner will hold on in this league. He's got a lot to play for. And the Ravens will probably be favored if this situation plays out.
But realistically - all I want is for the Eagles to lose. That's it.
Be Happy.
Eric
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)